Electrical switch



May 1, 1923. l 1,453,696

A. P. BALL ET Al.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Oct 24, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 1,1923.`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT P. BALL, OF ROYAL OAK, AND FREDRICK ZENKER, OF HIGHLAND PARK,`MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO SQUARE D COMPANY, OF DETROIT,` MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed October 24 tain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Switches, of which the following, taken 1n connection-withthe accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and concise descriptionthereof.

This invention relates to enclosed or armored switches and with regardto certain more specific features thereof to armored switches of thequick break type employing means for controlling the relative positionof the switch parts to accommodate various requirements of the service.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a switch of thecharacter above referred to which shall be simple in construction,durable and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide means ofvreliable andefficient character for insuring a proper sequence of switch operations.

Still another object lies in the provision of means insuring safety fromfire. protection from water, dirt, oil, and so forth, withoutsacrificing the features of simplicity and compactness.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in partpointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists of the various features ofconstruction` combination of elements and arrangements of parts whichwill be exemplified b v the construction hereinafter set forth and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the invention' A Figure 1 is a plan view `of an armoredswitch comprisingfeatures of the invention, the view being taken withthe switch parts4 closed as in normal service operation.

Fig. 2 is a view with the hinged cover 1917. Serial No. 198,297.

of the easing opened to more clearly indicate the interiorl structure.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l looking in thedirection of the' arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection Aof the arrows; and

Fig. G is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. A

Referring nowmore particularly to the drawings wherein similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. there isindicated at 1 a metal casing comprising the rectangular base portionupper, lower and side walls 3, and a movable cover portion 4 hinged tothe casing. as indicated at Secured to the base portion 2 is anauxiliary base or support ing member 6 of insulating material upon whichare mounted two sets 7 and 8 of fixed contacts` each set consisting ofthree spaced clip contacts. The contacts of set all serve as pivotalsupports for a set of movable contacts 5). which in the embodimentshown, are of knife blade construction and are pivoted in some suitablemanner to the contacts of set T. Intermediate the ends of the knifeblades they are joinedto each other by a tie'- rod 10 which extendstransversely of the switch and is connected to each blade respectivelyby means of a U-shaped connector 1l which straddles an insulatingbushing 12 of the tie-rod.and is secured in position by means of a screw13 which passes through the open ends of the U. One side of the U isformed with an earl/i adapted to abut the side of the knife blade and isSecured thereto in any suitable manner. An operating handle for thesemovable contacts is indicated at 20, being formed from a portion of anoperating crank rod Q1, which latter is journaled in opposite sides ofthe casing at 22 and i3, respectively, The connection between theoperating crank rod Q1 and the tie-rod 10 is by means of stamped metalhollow spring housings 2i which are. arranged with their ends looselyconnected to .n.the operating crank 21 by means of sheet metal straps25y which tit around the crank rod and are screwed to the sheet metalspring housings 24. In order to hold these connections againsttransverse disalignment the insulation bushings 12 are terminated atintervals and washers 26 of insulatingmaterial are iit on over thetie-rod 10 at either side of the sheet metal housings 24. As indicatedclearly in Fig. 6, these housings are cut away on opposite sides at 30in order to permit a. limited range of relative movement between theoperating crank 21 and the tie-rod and associated movable' contacts.-

A contractile spring-31 has one end secured to the screw which astensthe end straps 25 to the housing 24, and the other end of thisI springis coiled around the tie-rod 10 between the washers 26. The tendency7 ofthis spring is to urge the tie-rod and the crank rod toward each otherand as far as permitted by the opening 30 in the housing 24. Thepurposes of this construction will be later set forth.

Pivotally mounted within the casing by means of a suitable connectionwith a rod 40 journaled in the side walls is a baille plate 41. A coilspring 42 connected atI one end to a pin 43 on the rod 40 and having itsother end connected to a side wall of the casing, tends to urge thisbaille plate into a position above the fixed contacts 8, whereupon itwill lie between these fixed contacts and the movable contacts 9 andprovide an obstruction preventing the closing of the switch. The bailleplate 41 has formed thereon on a projection 44 on the opposite side ofits pivotal point from the spring connection at 43, whereby uponl theclosing oi' the cover 4 an actuating member 45 engages with thisprojection and moves the baille plateagainst the action of the spring 42into an inoperative' or unobstructing position.

vIt will be obvious from the foregoing that the switch may not beunintentionally or url-- wittingly closed while the hinged cover isopen. The setting of the baille plate in position to permit c osing otthel switch is dependent upon the hinged cover being moved to its fullyclosed position.

It is sometimes desirable that the switch be locked in open positioneven when the cover 4 is closed and sealed. To accomplish this a stop 50is provided on the cover 4 and when desired to so control the switchparts that they may not be changed when the cover is closed or sealed7the operating handle is moved to bring the crank rod 21 tov what may betermed its extreme open position, as indicated in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. ln this position it is brought back against a stop 51 whichprevents further movement in the direction of opening and then when thecover is brought to closed position the stop 50 lies in the -path oftravel of the operating crank toward closed position, as a result ofwhich the operating crank and its handle are locked against substantialmovement in either direction.

As set forth it is a further object oi the invention to provide simpleand otherwise improved means to prevent the hinged cover vbeing openeduntil after the switch has been opened. This is accomplished by means ofan inclined stop (S0 which rests below'the operating crank 21 in closedswitch position and with the cover closed. Should an attempt be made to'swing the cover open on its'hinges without iirst opening the switch suchaction will be resisted by the combined action of the springs 31 and thefriction of the spring. clips of the contacts 8 and their co-operatingknife blades. In the embodiment shown, however7 if suilicient force wereused the movable cover might be swung on its hinges to open position,but in doing so the inclined stop 60 would then serve as a Switchoperating arm which would cam the crank lever 21 to a position ot'disengagement betweenthc movable contacts and the fixed contacts 8. f

The insulating base block 6 also has mounted thereon suitable fuse clips65 in which are supported the usual circuit protecting fuses.

Summarizing the operation: The switch handle is normally maintained inthe position shown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. That is, apositionabout midway between the stop 51 and the baille plate 41. The operatormay first swing the hinged cover to closed position where it willbelatched by Vmeans of a spring clasp 6G. Thereafter the switch handle20 may be rocked upwardly until the kniie blade contacts have engagedwith the clips 8. It will be noted that at this time the baille plate 41is in its inoperative position duc to the i'act that the actuatingmember 45 has engaged with the projection 44 in the closing oi' thecover. Should an operator attempt at this time to open the cover suchaction would be resisted by the stop GO, or7 if persisted in, the switchwould be opened before the cover. It desired to lock theswitch in openposition the handle 2O is rocked until the crank 421 abuts the stop 51and thereupon the cover 4 is closed and latched and the stop 50 preventsany substantial movement oi the movable switch parts toward switchclosing position.

The cheapness, simplicity and effect-ive ness of the quick breakmechanism should be particularly noted in that the housing is of sheetmetal stamping and the connection between the housing and the strap 25permits relative rotative movement between the operating crank 21 andthe housing. Operation ofthe handler20 to open the switch permitsinitial movement of the handle, the operating crank and the housingsWithout directly effecting they opening of the switch contacts untilconsiderable increased tension has been putA upon the springs 31.Continued movement of the handle, of course, effects the disengagementof the contacts under the increased-spring tension mentioned resultingin a clean and instantaneous break.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and as manyapparently widely dili'erent ,embodiments of the inven` tion could bemade without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that allmatter set forth in the foregoing description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall )e interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Vhat is claimed:

1. In a deviceof the character described, in combination, a casinghaving a movable cover, a switch contained in said casing and comprisingfixed and movable contacts, a handle outside the casing having operatingconnections with said movable contacts, a battle plate pivotally mountedwithin said casing and spring urged toward a position to obstructclosure of the switch. means operative upon closure of the cover to movesaid baffle plate out of obstructing position, and means independent ofsaid baffle plate for locking said operating connections in open s-witchposition with the covet` closed.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, acasinghaving a movable cover, a switch contained in said casing and comprisingfixed and movable contacts, a handle outside the casing having operatingconnections with said movable contacts, a. baffle plate pivotallymounted within said casing and spring urged towarday position toobstruct closure of the switch, means operative upon closure of thecover to move said baffle plate out of obstructing position, and meansresisting the 'opening of said cover` when the switch is closed anduntil the latter has been opened,v

3. Ina device of the character described, in combination, a casinghaving a movable cover, a switch contained in said casing and comprisingfixed and movable contacts, a handle outside the casing having operatingconnections with said movable contacts, a baille plate pivotally mountedwithin said casing and spring urged toward a position to obstructclosure of' the switch. means operative upon closure of the cover tomove said baille plate out of obstructing position, and means comprisinga stop carried on said cover for resisting the opening ot said coverwhen the switch is closed and until the latter has been opened.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a casinghaving a hinged cover,a switch eontained in said casing andfcomprising fixed and movable-contacts, operating means whereby said movable contacts may be movedinto and out of engagement with said fixed contacts, means comprising astop adapted to resist opening of the cover until after the switch hasbeen opened. a baille plate adapted to cover thefixed contacts when theswitch is open, and means comprising a stop adapted to prevent closureo't the switch when the cover is closed, both said means being on saidcover and inaccessible when the 4cover is closed, substantiall)v asdescribed.

45. in a device of the character described, in combination, a casinghaving a hinged cover, a switch contained in said casing and comprisingfixed and movable contacts, operating means whereby said movablecontacts may be moved into and out of engagement with said fixedcontacts, means comprising a stop adapted to resist opening of the coveruntil after the switch has been opened, means comprising a stop adaptedto prevent 'closure ot the switch when the cover is Iclosed, and meansadapted to prevent clsure of the switch when the cover is open; saidlast means comprising a biased stop within the casing and a projectionfrom the cover adapted to move the biased stop to inoperative positionlupon closing the cover.

6. 1n a device ot the character described, in` combination, a casinghaving a hinged cover, a switch contained-in said casing and comprisingfixed and movable contacts, op-` erating means whereby said .movablecontacts may be moved into and out of engagement with said fixedcontacts, said operating means comprising an operating crank meanscomprising a stop carried by said cover and adapted to co-operate withsaid operating means to resist opening of the cover until after theswitch has been opened, and means comprising a stop car ried by saidc'ovcr adapted to prevent closure oithc switch when the cover is closed,said first mentioned means being also adapt ed to open the switch onforcing the cover open.

7. 1n a vdevice ot thc character described, in combination. a casinghaving a hinged cover and switch contained in said casing and comprisingfixed and movable contacts, operating means, comprising an operatingcrank whereby said movable contacts may be moved into and out otengagement with said lixed contacts, means to lock the operating crankin the cxtreme open position, and means on the cover for throwing themovable contacts out of engagement with the fixed contacts, said meanscomprising an oblique stop adapted to co-operate with the operatingcrank. Y

S. ln a device of the character described, in combination, a casinghaving a hinged cover and switch contained in said .casing andcomprising fixed and movable contacts,

operating means, whereby said movable contacts may be moved into and outofen agement with said fixed i contacts, lo k-of means, comprising anangular piece of metal astto said cover, one portion of which is adaptedto clear the operating meansdurng normal operation of the switch, theother portion of which is adapted on one side to lock the operatingmeans in the extreme open position, and means on the cover for 1-0throwing the movable'contacts out of engagement with, the xed contacts,said means comprising an oblique stop adapted to eo-operate with the o'eratn means.

ALBE T P. ALL.

FREDRICK ZENKER`

